State Rep. Combee Files His First Bills

Published: Sunday, January 27, 2013 at 12:01 a.m.

Last Modified: Monday, January 28, 2013 at 2:32 a.m.

State Rep. Neil Combee, R-Polk City, filed his first bills as a state legislator on Friday. Although he was a Polk County commissioner for 16 years and a participant in many local ordinances, this is his first time writing bills that could become state law.

Combee was elected in November. The 2013 session of the Florida Legislature will begin March 5.

Freshman legislators, especially in the first year, don't expect to file major legislation that will change the world, but you won't be able to tell that the first time Combee or the Polk delegation's other freshman, Mike LaRosa, R-St. Cloud, take to the floor to present their first bills.

There is a type of good-natured hazing that goes on for all freshmen who introduce and explain their bills for the first time on the floor of the House. On a bill that normally would pass without comment after the sponsor introduces his or her bill, suddenly there are eight or 10 legislators who rise to ask questions.

Some years ago, the House members defeated an uncontroversial bill by a first-time legislator. Then a member of the prevailing side, as per Robert's Rules of Order, rose to reconsider the bill, and the darn thing passed unanimously.

If it happens to Combee, he'll have little to worry about with his three pieces of legislation.

The first is a legislative memoriam, basically a request, by the Florida Legislature to the U.S. Congress to protect gun rights.

Another bill grew out of Combee's experience on the Polk County Commission in attracting new businesses to the area, and he considers it his most important bill.

House Bill 121 would require the state Department of Economic Opportunity to create a web page providing detailed information on permits, fees and all data necessary to create new businesses or expand a business in the state.

But it goes beyond that, Combee said, because it requires the specific permits, fees, zoning regulations for all cities and the 67 counties in the state to be listed on the website.

It allows companies planning to locate in the state and one particular area to use one or two clicks of a computer mouse to find out all the information it used to take several phone calls to discover.

Some local governments already have some of the information, but this would allow the regulations, permits and fees throughout the state and its cities and counties to be located in one area. It also would be good for comparisons.

"This would allow someone in Singapore, for example, to see the charges for a construction permit, see what hearings are necessary, and the bill will also allow the municipalities to put their amenities on the website. It is all public information anyway, but this way it is all in one place," Combee said.

"As an elected official for 16 years, I would get calls from people wanting to know, say, a demolition permit cost and the procedures. This website would also allow a couple thinking about building a home locally to find out information, too," he said.

Combee's second bill is near and dear to many who live in retirement or golf communities. House Bill 71 Low-Speed Vehicles Act would allow a vehicle currently classified as a low-speed vehicle to be treated as a golf cart for purposes of insurance and traffic regulations.

Florida Statute 320.01(42) explains that low-speed vehicles are different from golf carts because they are defined as "any four-wheeled electric vehicles whose top speed is greater than 20 miles per hour but not greater than 25 miles per hour," Low-speed vehicles include NEV or neighborhood electric vehicles.

Golf carts which can go no faster than 20 mph aren't considered low-speed vehicles and are prohibited from operation on roads. Low-speed vehicles, on the other hand, are subject to a license tax. The driver must have a license, and insurance is the same.

Now, in case you think this isn't a big deal for many people, Combee said, the retirement community of The Villages alone has 6,000 low-speed vehicles, not including the golf carts there.

The other House freshman in the eight-member Polk County, LaRosa, has filed House Bill 321 regarding some aspects of growth management and House Bill 369 Student Safety. The second bill requires district school boards to list emergency response agencies responsible for notifying their school district of emergencies. It also requires emergency response agencies to notify private schools in the district under certain emergencies.

[ Ledger Political Editor Bill Rufty can be reached at bill.rufty@theledger.com or 863-802-7523. Read his blog at www.polkpolitics.blogs.theledger.com and follow on Twitter @LedgerBill. ]

<p>State Rep. Neil Combee, R-Polk City, filed his first bills as a state legislator on Friday. Although he was a Polk County commissioner for 16 years and a participant in many local ordinances, this is his first time writing bills that could become state law.</p><p>Combee was elected in November. The 2013 session of the Florida Legislature will begin March 5.</p><p>Freshman legislators, especially in the first year, don't expect to file major legislation that will change the world, but you won't be able to tell that the first time Combee or the Polk delegation's other freshman, Mike LaRosa, R-St. Cloud, take to the floor to present their first bills.</p><p>There is a type of good-natured hazing that goes on for all freshmen who introduce and explain their bills for the first time on the floor of the House. On a bill that normally would pass without comment after the sponsor introduces his or her bill, suddenly there are eight or 10 legislators who rise to ask questions.</p><p>Some years ago, the House members defeated an uncontroversial bill by a first-time legislator. Then a member of the prevailing side, as per Robert's Rules of Order, rose to reconsider the bill, and the darn thing passed unanimously.</p><p>If it happens to Combee, he'll have little to worry about with his three pieces of legislation.</p><p>The first is a legislative memoriam, basically a request, by the Florida Legislature to the U.S. Congress to protect gun rights.</p><p>Another bill grew out of Combee's experience on the Polk County Commission in attracting new businesses to the area, and he considers it his most important bill.</p><p>House Bill 121 would require the state Department of Economic Opportunity to create a web page providing detailed information on permits, fees and all data necessary to create new businesses or expand a business in the state. </p><p>But it goes beyond that, Combee said, because it requires the specific permits, fees, zoning regulations for all cities and the 67 counties in the state to be listed on the website.</p><p>It allows companies planning to locate in the state and one particular area to use one or two clicks of a computer mouse to find out all the information it used to take several phone calls to discover.</p><p>Some local governments already have some of the information, but this would allow the regulations, permits and fees throughout the state and its cities and counties to be located in one area. It also would be good for comparisons.</p><p>"This would allow someone in Singapore, for example, to see the charges for a construction permit, see what hearings are necessary, and the bill will also allow the municipalities to put their amenities on the website. It is all public information anyway, but this way it is all in one place," Combee said.</p><p>"As an elected official for 16 years, I would get calls from people wanting to know, say, a demolition permit cost and the procedures. This website would also allow a couple thinking about building a home locally to find out information, too," he said. </p><p>Combee's second bill is near and dear to many who live in retirement or golf communities. House Bill 71 Low-Speed Vehicles Act would allow a vehicle currently classified as a low-speed vehicle to be treated as a golf cart for purposes of insurance and traffic regulations. </p><p>Florida Statute 320.01(42) explains that low-speed vehicles are different from golf carts because they are defined as "any four-wheeled electric vehicles whose top speed is greater than 20 miles per hour but not greater than 25 miles per hour," Low-speed vehicles include NEV or neighborhood electric vehicles.</p><p>Golf carts which can go no faster than 20 mph aren't considered low-speed vehicles and are prohibited from operation on roads. Low-speed vehicles, on the other hand, are subject to a license tax. The driver must have a license, and insurance is the same.</p><p>Now, in case you think this isn't a big deal for many people, Combee said, the retirement community of The Villages alone has 6,000 low-speed vehicles, not including the golf carts there.</p><p>The other House freshman in the eight-member Polk County, LaRosa, has filed House Bill 321 regarding some aspects of growth management and House Bill 369 Student Safety. The second bill requires district school boards to list emergency response agencies responsible for notifying their school district of emergencies. It also requires emergency response agencies to notify private schools in the district under certain emergencies.</p><p>[ Ledger Political Editor Bill Rufty can be reached at bill.rufty@theledger.com or 863-802-7523. Read his blog at www.polkpolitics.blogs.theledger.com and follow on Twitter @LedgerBill. ]</p>